Senior Manager, Events & Partnerships

Position Summary

Reporting to the Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, the Senior Manager, Events & Partnerships will enhance War Child’s profile and fundraising efforts through strategic events and creative initiatives. This role focuses on deepening donor engagement, cultivating new donors, and exploring new partnerships and fundraising opportunities.

The Senior Manager is tasked with raising a minimum of $500,000 within a portfolio that includes signature and partnership events (annual gala and golf tournament), corporate partnerships, donations and sponsorships (both cash and in-kind), and artist and celebrity partnerships. The Senior Manager plays a crucial role in increasing War Child’s brand profile and ensuring all activities are donor-centric, thus deepening donor engagement and fostering long-term relationships. The Senior Manager will have the opportunity to be hands-on in daily tasks due to our small, dynamic team, allowing them to make a direct impact and stay closely connected to all aspects of the operations.

Responsibilities

Event planning and management (60%)

1. Develop and Manage Events: Create event visions, goals, and targets with a focus on best-in-class fundraising, brand buzz, audience reach, and donor cultivation. Develop and manage event budgets and oversee marketing and PR strategies for maximum sales and exposure.
2. Cultivate Relationships: Build and manage relationships with artists, talent, and influencers for events and sponsorship. Engage new target markets and audiences across North America through events.
3. Sales, Sponsorship and Partnerships: Develop and present compelling sponsorship and corporate partnership proposals. Actively sell sponsorships to secure cash and in-kind sponsorships, including gifts-in-kind and prizes for auctions and raffles. Responsible for ensuring event sales (tables, foursomes, tickets) are successful and hit fundraising targets.
4. Volunteer Management: Manage volunteer committee efforts, including the recruitment, training, coordination, and management of event volunteers.
5. Event Coordination: Manage sales, ticketing, invitations, and guest coordination. Handle on-site activities and post-event wrap-up, including supporter communications, reporting, and inventory. Coordinate with donors, partners, vendors, sponsors, and volunteers to ensure events are executed flawlessly. Represent War Child at events and lead War Child teams.
6. Material Development: Develop and design event materials and sales pitches; provide administrative support as needed.

Creative and corporate partnerships (30%)

1. Prospect Development: Develop and manage corporate and creative partnership prospect lists with specific goals and targets.
2. Account Management: Manage corporate and creative partnership accounts to grow revenue and partnership opportunities, increasing War Child’s reach. Oversee marketing and PR strategies for maximum return and best-in-class cultivation and stewardship.
3. Relationship Cultivation: Cultivate and manage relationships with artists, talent, and influencers for corporate and creative partnership opportunities.

Strategy development (10%)

1. Annual Planning: Support the development and execution of annual plans, programs, and budgets to meet long-term event, sponsorship, partnership, and philanthropy objectives.

Qualifications

Experience & Knowledge

1. Over five (5) years in event planning and management, including professional fundraising, with a minimum of two (2) years in a management role.
2. In-depth experience organizing, selling, and running various fundraising events (e.g., golf tournaments, galas, third-party fundraisers, peer-to-peer fundraising).
3. Proven success in corporate business development, securing sponsorships, and developing partnerships.
4. Extensive experience in fundraising, managing donors, committees, and volunteers.
5. Experience in managing staff, agencies, vendors, and consultants.
6. Background in developing marketing and PR strategies and materials.
7. Experience in the music/entertainment industry, especially with artist and celebrity partners, is an asset.
8. Experience in international development organizations, particularly in event sponsorship and corporate partnerships, is an asset.
9. Proficiency with CRM databases like Raiser’s Edge is an asset.
10. Demonstrated ability to work in a high-performance, fast-paced team environment.

Skills & Ability

1. Superior written and verbal communication skills.
2. Excellent planning, organization, and project management abilities.
3. Strong interpersonal, influencing, and negotiation skills.
4. Leadership and partnership-building capabilities.
5. Ability to manage multiple projects and prioritize effectively.
6. Creative, detail-oriented, and resourceful self-starter with strong research and analytical skills.
7. Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team.
8. Proven ability to meet deadlines and work within budget constraints.
9. Solid computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite.
10. Graphic design experience with tools like Canva, Adobe Photoshop, and/or Illustrator is an asset.

Compensation & Benefits

1. Salary: $80,000-$90,000 CAD per year, depending on experience
2. Benefits: Health, dental, disability, and travel Insurance. Also, wellness and professional development funds
3. Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSP): Matching after one year of employment
4. Vacation: Three weeks

Application Instruction

Please upload your cover letter and CV as a single document.